A luminous epoch in military and civil governance with a disciplined quietude post government has ended somewhat abruptly with the death of General Godwin Osagie Abbe, Commander of the Federal Republic.
Abbe died on Saturday night in Abuja in a protracted illness.
He was born on January 10, 1949. He would have turned 76 on January 10, 2025.
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A source close to the family sent this short message to THE CONCLAVE: “General Godwin Osagie Abbe, CFR, Nigeria’s most decorated military officer of Edo extraction, who served as Governor of Akwa Ibom and Rivers States, GOC, and Minister of Defence and Internal Affairs, passed away yesterday [Saturday].”
The life and times of the late General were characterised by chequered history.
He enlisted in the Nigerian Army and was promoted Lance Corporal, 1967. He became Lieutenant in 1969; Battalion Commander, 1969-72; promoted Captain, 1971; Instructor (Company Officer), Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna, 1974-76; promoted Major, 1975; Staff Officer Grade I, 2 Divisional Headquarters, NA, and Directing Staff, Senior Division, Command and Staff College, Jaji, 1979-80; First Nigerian Directing Staff on Secondment to Ghana Armed Forces Staff College, Teshie, 1980-82; and, promoted Lieutenant Colonel, 1983.
He was promoted to Colonel, 1986; was the Commander, 2nd Mechanised Division Garrison, Ibadan, up to 1988; appointed Military Governor, Akwa Ibom State,1988-1990; Passed Staff College (PSC); National Decoration: Forces Service Star (FSS) Medal, 1985.
He then became General Officer Commanding (GOC) 2 Division Nigerian Army; Commander, Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) and Commander, National War College.
He retired in 1999 with the rank of Major General. He was appointed Minister of Interior on July 26, 2007; minister of Defence July 14, 2009 – 17 March 2010. He was a former chairman, Peoples Democratic Party, Edo State.
He attended United Baptist School, Benin City, 1953-60, Iguodala Secondary Modern School, Benin City, 1961, Kiriji Memorial College, Igbajo, Ifelodun, Oyo State, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife; enlisted in the Nigerian Army, July 1967, and attended various military courses, including Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna, Air-Borne/Infantry Officer Advanced Course, US Army Infantry School, Fort- Benning, Georgia, USA, 1972-73, Ghana Armed Forces Staff College, Teshie, 1978-80.
Distinguished Service Star; Pass Staff College; National Institute.
His hobbies were squash, hunting, masonry.
